A Visit To Taughannock Falls State Park & My New Camera Takes a Test Drive

Ulysses, NY (68 degrees, cool, windy)

In the distance from an overlook you can first see this spectacular falls.  Taughannock Falls is higher than Niagara Falls (215 foot drop) and feeds into the beautiful Cayuga Lake. 

There is a easy, flat, and shady trail leading back to the base of the falls.  We have really enjoyed seeing all the waterfalls in the Finger Lakes area. Parking is $7 a day (free with Golden Age or Access Pass).

I recently purchased a new point and shoot camera.  My Canon Powershot was not working well and had certainly served me well for many years.  After a lot of research and recommendation from two of our friends (thanks Kathy and Bev) I purchased a Panasonic Lumix DMC ZS20.  It’s super easy to use, has a great zoom, and is especially good in low light.

 

Trail leading to the base of the falls

I had considered buying a SLR camera but the price is around $1200 with a zoom lens.  The Panasonic fits in my purse or back pack and was about $325 which included a few accessories on Amazon (camera case, protective film, & memory card). 

I love the zoom. Below  is a regular picture of the falls at the end of the trail. 

The next photo is with the zoom taken in the same spot.  You are seeing the top of the falls. 

Pretty cool!  There seems to be very good stabilization with the zoom which give you a clear pictures.  This was taken without a tripod.  Right now I’ve been using just the automatic features.  It is very intuitive and has lots of other features. It is much easier to use right out of the box than my Canon Powershot was in the past. 

Kayak/canoe launch

After the hike we crossed the freeway to check out the nice beach  for swimming on Cayuga Lake and the kayak/canoe launch for possible future use.  We prefer to kayak on rivers and this lake looks like it might be difficult to paddle with our SeaEagle.  It’s the largest of the Finger Lakes. 

Cayuga Lake

Swimming area

I really enjoyed my ice cream cone as we walked along the shore.  Life is good! Just as we were leaving three school buses pulled up and dropped off these children to spend a day at the lake.  They were so excited as they raced to the water and play ground. 

We will definitely go back to spend more time at this State Park.  It would be a great place for a picnic and swim on a hot summer day. 

Kayak Paddle Trip - Lamoka Lake (Finger Lake area)

Lamoka Lake, near Tyrone NY (95 degrees, hazy, hot & humid)

We finally were able to get our Sea Eagle 370 kayak out for a nice paddle today.  Since it was our first trip in awhile we choose a small lake for our first excursion.  Lamoka Lake is about 30 minutes from Watkins Glen and is connected to Waneta Lake by a small channel

We bought the Sea Eagle just before we became full timers.  In the past we owned a canoe and still prefer one.  However, the convenience of an inflatable kayak makes this the best option now.  John quickly inflated it with the foot pump. 

We carried it over to the boat launch which is very nice.  Parking is available on either side of County Road 23 and  you can paddle either Lamoka or Waneta Lake. 

Concrete boat launch

This is the culvert under CR 23 which connects the two lakes. 

I purchased a great paddling book from Amazon called "Take a Paddle, Finger Lakes, New York Quiet Water for Canoes & Kayaks"  by Rich and Sue Freeman.  They suggested Lamoka due to it being prettier and a nice mixture of wild and developed shores.  We agree!

Our kayak was ready to go. We loaded up our cooler, canoe safe (stores keys, wallet, camera), and set off down the channel. 

It sure was nice to be out on the water.  There were lots of birds and a nice breeze.  The weather has suddenly turned very hot and humid but being on the water was very nice. 

The channel suddenly opens up into a pretty lake. There were a few speed boats zooming around but for the most part it was very peaceful.  

A few cottages dotted along the shore but for the most part the shore was very wooded or marshy.  

There is a small island with a rope swing in the middle called Red Bank where many of the locals play and swim. 

It was a nice paddle and wonderful to be out on the water.  Afterward we drove to Hammondsport and had a appetizer and cocktail at our favorite restaurant, the Village Tavern.  It was a very enjoyable day off. 

A Visit To The Big Apple - New York City

New York, NY (68 degrees, lots of rain)

We are just having such a great time in New York.  Martha (John's sister) finished teaching at Bennington College and she has spent two weeks with us before returning to her home in Sao Paolo Brazil.  Between working at the KOA and touring the Finger Lakes its been a very busy time for us. 

The highlight of our time together was a trip to New York City.  Martha performed at the Christ & St. Stephen's Church and presented a wonderful concert featuring Brazilian composers.  Her friend and previous student Israel Pessoa also performed.  Max Lifchitz was the pianist.

It was a thrill to see them in concert.  They are all very talented and have performed in opera houses and concert halls all over the world. 

Martha and Max

Martha and Israel

Below is a video I took of one of their duets (Dueto Jocoserio).  It's about her fury with a lover who no longer wants her. Opera's are all about drama!

We stayed with Israel and his lovely family in their home in East Stroudsberg PA.  We commuted to NYC by subway from Newark ($2.50/person) and one day Israel drove us into the city during rush hour.  That was interesting!  I can't imagine doing that everyday.  Israel told me about a cool app for smartphones called Waze that is invaluable in a traffic jam.  Users post delays, speed traps, and construction along your route.  It will even give you some alternative suggestions when necessary.  Israel uses it everyday when he "plans" the route into NYC. 

We also spent two days as tourists in New York City.  Here are a few of the highlights.  Many of them were suggested to us from our Facebook friends (thanks so much) or from a Frommer's NYC guide and AAA book. 

Circle Line 3 hour full island tour is a great way to get an  overview of the city. It was a very rainy day but it was still lots of fun and our first look at this fascinating and vibrant city. 

Seven new towers are being built to replace the Worlds Trade Center (the tallest tower will be 50% higher once completed)

9/11 Memorial is behind the glass arches.  A ticket is required in advance to see the memorial. 

Statue of Liberty

Ellis Island

United Nations Building

Brooklyn Bridge (many folks recommended walking across, we just did not have enough time)

Railroad bridge opening up after a train crossed the river

New Yankee Stadium

Our boat docked next to the U.S.S Intrepid.  It is now a museum and the space shuttle Enterprise just arrived a few weeks ago.  It was quite a sight to see. 

We found the city very easy to navigate.  Our tine was very limited but we sure saw a lot in a short period of time. The next day we also took a ferry out to the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island. 

The cost was $15/person and included head sets at each stop that told you information and facts about each site.  Best deal in New York!  A reservation is required in advance to go inside the Statue of Liberty and to have access to walk up the stairs to the crown.

Time Square

 

One of the new towers

 

Riding the subway was not very "user friendly" to a tourist.  Luckily Martha and Israel were able to help us and several passengers gave us advice too.  The information booths were not very plentiful and with the huge crush of people going in all directions a little unnerving.  After a few trips on the subway we started to feel more comfortable. It's only $2.50 a ride.  We did not try the buses.   

"Entertainment" on the subway

A visit to Central Park was recommended by many of our friends.  We saw a small portion of this beautiful park and stopped to see Strawberry Fields a tribute to John Lennon located across from the Dakota Hotel.  The park is a very busy place and so beautiful. 

Another great tip was the recommendation to eat at John's Pizzeria.  There are several locations and they make the BEST pizza!

It was a quick visit and the weather did not exactly cooperate but there is a lot to love about the city that never sleeps.